Puzzle game



Dec. 3, 1957 L. E. TRAVIS 2,815,215

PUZZLE GAME File d Oct. 14. 1955 Fig./

14 26 /2 Fig.2 Lore: ig/ m BY m lywvy FM 2,815,215 PUZZLE GAME Lorenz E. Travis, East Peoria, Ill. Application October 14, 1955, Serial No. 540,468 2 Claims. (Cl. 273153) This invention generally relates to an amusement de vice and more specifically provides a puzzle device which is highly novel in construction and intriguing in operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a puzzle device employing a playing board having a generally flat surface thereon with a plurality of continuous grooves wherein the grooves outline well known animals and are disposed in overlapping and intersecting relation wherein the outline of the various animals are normally indistinguishable and partially obliterated by each other wherein a flexible member is provided for positioning in the grooves for forming a continuous outline of a particular animal whereby the various intersections and overlapping portions of the grooves provide a problem to be solved in solving the puzzle of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a puzzle device in accordance with the preceding object wherein all of the continuous grooves are equal in length and are equal in length to the flexible member wherein the solution of the puzzle will be determined if the free ends of the flexible member are disposed adjacent each other when the particular animal designated has been outlined.

Other objects of the invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, intriguing operating, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing costs.

These together vtith other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the puzzle device of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2--2 of Figure 1 illustrating the construction of the grooves and the relationship of the flexible element with the spherical members thereon.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the puzzle device of the present invention including a generally rectangular board 12 which is relatively thin and which is adapted to be posi-tioned within a box 14 having an upstanding peripheral wall 16 which extends beyond the upper surface of the board member 12 thereby forming a fence for the periphery of the board 12.

Disposed in the flat upper surface of the board 12 is a plurality of continuous grooves 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, and 26 which normally form an outline for well known animals or other similar objects. In the disposition as illustrated, the animals formed by the continuous grooves are overlapping partially and the grooves are disposed in intersecting relationship thereby rendering the various animals indistinguishable whereby the outline and identification of the particular animals may be solved by careful observation of the various grooves.

An elongated flexible line 28 is provided with a plurality of spherical members 30 and the flexible member 28 may be either continuous or provided with free ends wherein the overall length of the flexible line 28 is equal to each of the continuous grooves 18-26 wherein the flexible line 28 will exactly be received within the grooves 18-26. Accordingly, when the flexible member 28 with the spherical members 30 thereon which facilitates the positioning of the flexible member 28 within the grooves has been properly positioned to outline an animal for observation as illustrated in Figure 1, the flexible member 28 will not protrude from the groove and if free ends are employed, the free ends will be immediately adjacent each other. Accordingly, the proper positioning of the flexible member 28 may be determined by the orientation of the flexible member 28 in relation to the various grooves.

It will be readily apparent that the above invention provides a puzzle device which is extremely simple in construction but yet intriguing inasmuch as the flexible member defining the outline of the animal must be exactly positioned in order to utilize the entire flexible member. By developing certain rules of play, the puzzle game may be developed wherein persons may compete against each other for outlining or defining certain animals from the puzzle by utilizing the flexible member 28 wherein the animal may then be identified and this will properly associate the shapes of various animals with their names and develop knowledge in the identification of certain animals. It will be understood that other well known objects may be employed when desired and the device may be colored any suitable color as desired and as may be required to enhance the construction of the puzzle device.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted 1:0,. falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A puzzle game comprising a board having a flat upper surface, said surface having a plurality of continuous grooves therein forming outlines of well known objects, said grooves being disposed in intersecting relation with objects defined thereby being disposed in overlapping relation, and a flexible member disposable in said grooves for outlining one of said objects whereby the intersections of the grooves form a puzzle, each of said continuous grooves being equal in length and equal to the length of said flexible member, said flexible member including a line having a plurality of spherical beads thereon to facilitate the positioning thereof in said grooves.

2. A puzzle device comprising a board having a flat upper surface with a plurality of grooves disposed therein, said grooves being continuous and disposed in intersecting relationship, said grooves forming outlines of a plurality of animals with the outlines being disposed in overlying and haphazard relation thereby rendering the outlines and animals normally indistinguishable, and a flexible member for positioning in said grooves for making one outline distinguishable when the ends of the flexible line are brought into abutting relation, each continuous groove being equal in length to the flexible member, said flexible member having spherical members thereon to facilitate the positioning of the flexible member in the grooves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,480 Kelley Jan. 8, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 351,437 Germany Apr. 7, 1922. 694,042 Great Britain July 15, 195.; 

